Cornerback Nigel Bethel announces he’s leaving Miami Hurricanes

A second defensive back this week has announced he is leaving the Miami Hurricanes and seeking a transfer.

Redshirt freshman cornerback Nigel Bethel Jr. let his intentions be known on Twitter on Friday afternoon.

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“Thank you to coach Manny Diaz, Ephraim Banda and the rest of the coaching staff at the University of Miami,” Bethel wrote. “But as of now I have entered my name in the Transfer portal and my recruitment is open.”

Bethel appeared in one game last season, the home opener against Savannah State. The 6-foot, 175-pound speedster out of Miami Northwestern largely served as a member of the practice squad as he redshirted in 2018.

The move affects Miami’s depth at cornerback. Like at safety, UM is down to five scholarship players: junior Trajan Bandy, sophomores DJ Ivey and Al Blades Jr. and freshmen Te’Cory Couch and Christian Williams.

While that makes 10 total defensive backs on scholarship, Miami also has strikers Romeo Finley (6-1, 218) and Gilbert Frierson (6-1, 200), who would fit, in traditional schemes, in the secondary.